Make Christmas Feel Like Christmas Again

When I was a little girl, the week before Christmas was brutal. Every day felt like it was dragging on forever, and no matter how many fun assemblies, movie days, and classroom parties we had at school, time didn’t speed up.

Yet spending the day or two before Christmas at home felt even worse. Helping my mom bake cookies and listening to Christmas record albums didn’t make the time pass any quicker. I distinctly remember getting in trouble more in those few days than I did the entire rest of the year. I’m sure I was bouncing off the walls with excitement, and my mom was frazzled with all the last-minute preparations.

It’s funny how Christmas as an adult is so different than Christmas as a kid. Racing the clock in an attempt to finish everything that should be finished by December 25 is a lot more stressful than counting down the minutes before the big day.

Ready or not, Christmas will be here before we know it. The big question is this: will our anticipation and excitement will come anywhere close to what we experienced as kids? Or will we be so focused on our shopping and to-do lists that we’ll breathe a sigh of relief on December 26?

For those of us who are really competent at adulting, it’s far too easy to let our plans, agendas, and lists dictate the holidays. But where did the wonder go? Where’s the thrill?

To try to recapture some of the innocence and excitement of Christmas, here are a few suggestions for your holiday season.

How to Make Christmas Feel Like Christmas Again

1. Don’t Forget Your Favorites

Think back to your past Christmases. What were some of your favorite aspects? What was your favorite food to eat? What was your favorite movie or cartoon to watch? What song did you play over and over and over again? What were your favorite activities? What was your favorite decoration?

Try to recreate some of the Christmas magic by adding those favorites into this year’s Christmas season.

Bake your grandma’s homemade Christmas cookies.
Make some Chex Mix and watch “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” for the fifty-second time.
Hang your mom’s favorite Christmas ornament on your Christmas tree.
Listen to the Christmas carol you memorized for your ninth grade choir concert.

Many of the people who are in these favorite memories may not be present this Christmas, but you can still take some time to remember and enjoy.

2. Make Time for Fun

Christmas is a fantastic time to feel like a kid at heart. Encourage this in yourself by setting aside one day to have some fun. Think about what sounds like a lot of fun and do it:

Get creative and crafty.
Head outside for some wintertime activities like ice skating or sled riding.
Go somewhere to visit a Christmas display, a Christmas performance, or a Christmas parade.
Get together for a night out with friends and plan a goofy white elephant gift exchange.

Take time to forget about everything else that’s going on in the world and enjoy the moment.

3. Don’t Schedule Every Moment

Christmas plans have a funny way of multiplying and taking over any spare moment of your December. Fight against this overwhelming push for more, more, more by scheduling times for rest. Plan for a quiet night at home where you can catch your breath and relax. Spending some quiet time alone will help you appreciate the rest of the hustle and bustle of the season.

4. Turn on the Music and Lights … Then Enjoy!

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to make Christmas feel like Christmas is to turn on some Christmas lights. Turn on some of your favorite Christmas music. Then, turn off the rest of the lights in your home. Take a while to enjoy what you see and hear. Use this festive downtime to visit with loved ones, think about Christmases past, or consider what last-minute preparations need to be made.

5. Remember the Reason for the Season

People around the world celebrate Christmas every year to remember and honor the birth of Jesus Christ. While it often seems like Christmas might have morphed into a focus on gifts or Santa or family get-togethers, Christmas wouldn’t be here without Jesus.

Take some time to read about his birth in Luke chapters 1 and 2 and Matthew chapter 1. Ponder the wonder and amazement of the story. Worship Christ the newborn King, whether quietly through prayer in the comfort of your own home, or with others at a Christmas church service.

By reliving some of your favorite aspects of Christmases past, making time to have fun, intentionally leaving yourself some breathing room, enjoying Christmas lights and music, and turning your focus to Christ, you can make Christmas feel like Christmas again.

What are some things you must do every year to feel like your Christmas is complete? What do you do to make Christmas feel like Christmas?

I was featured in a Redfin article! Check it out here: Getting Into the Holiday Spirit: How to Make Christmas Feel Like Christmas Again

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Hilary

Hilary Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, homeschooling mama, and writer who believes every Christian woman can live with peace and purpose. She's happiest when she's hosting friends and family for dinner, going on date nights with her husband, singing along to the radio, traveling with her family, and spending cozy nights at home. The author of fifteen books,Hilary also is Women's Ministry Director at The Chapel in Green, Ohio.